• Afternoon clouds cover the distance peaks of the iconic Boney Mountain

    Santa Monica Mountains

    National Recreation Area California

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Partial Park Closure Due to Hazardous Conditions

    Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa re-opens 5/14/13, with restrictions (sunrise to sunset, not all trails). Sandstone Peak & Mishe Mokwa trails will also open, as will Backbone Trail east of Point Mugu State Park boundary. Point Mugu backcountry remains closed. More »

  • Trucks on Cheeseboro Canyon Trail

    Occasional truck traffic (approx 6 trips per day) will take place on Cheeseboro Cyn Trail weekdays between 8am & 4pm for demolition and removal of Cheeseboro Tank. Should be completed by 5/24/13. Check back for updates or call 818-889-8996. More »

Fire Operations

The park's Type 3 wildland fire engine is ready for the next fire.

The Santa Monica Mountains Type 3 wildland fire engine has a crew of five including a captain, engineer, and three firefighters.

All wildland fires within Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area (SMMNRA) receive full suppression action through immediate response by initial attack resources. SMMNRA has two wildland fire engines which are available to respond to these incidents. One of these engines is a large Type 3 wildland engine and the other is a smaller Type 6 wildland engine.

The protection areas within the SMMNRA boundary consists of federal, state, county, city and private property. With the many homes at risk and the large response area, SMMNRA works with numerous other state, county and local government fire agencies through cooperative fire agreements to suppress these wildfires. Ventura County Fire, Los Angeles County Fire and Los Angeles City Fire are our closest suppression resources.

The park's type 6 wildland fire engine waits for the next call.

The Santa Monica Mountains Type 6 wildland fire engine carries 290 gallons of water on board.

In addition to initial attack responsibilities, the Type 3 engine responds to other local, regional and national fire incidents. The engine assists other parks in the region with prescribed burn projects and hazardous fuel reduction. It provides other park units with additional staffing during periods of very high fire danger. The engine staff works closely with the fuels management staff on hazardous fuels mitigation projects to create defensible space around park structures.

The park provides fire training to NPS employees outside fire management who are then available to fill in during periods of very high and extreme fire danger. In addition, the SMMNRA brings in resources from other areas to help augment staffing during severe fire conditions.

Did You Know?

Watch the credits a the end of a film and you may discover how often national parks are used by the movie industry.

Unique vistas and cultural significance often draw filmmakers to National Parks. Paramount Ranch is the only place in the National Park System where you can see movie making in action at a historic movie ranch once owned by Paramount Pictures (1927).